06 Aug Program Improves Post-Op Patient Safety At Community Hospitals
MedicalResearch.com Interview
Cristina B. Geltzeiler, MD
Knight Cancer Institute
Oregon Health & Science University
Portland, OR 97239-3098
Medical Research: What are the main findings of the study?
Dr. Geltzeiler: The main findings of the study are that implementing an Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) program at a community hospital can be successfully implemented and can allow patients to recover quicker from their surgery with ongoing safety.
Medical Research: Were any of the findings unexpected?
Dr. Geltzeiler: Multiple others internationally and at academic institutions have shown improvement in patient care with quicker recovery after surgery with maintained patient safety. We were pleasantly surprised that we could show similar results of enhanced recovery without compromising safety after implementing the program in a community hospital. We were surprised by the degree of reduction in post-operative stay that we could demonstrate, especially for laparoscopic cases. We also were surprised that Alvimopam was as helpful as it was reducing length of stay by one day after we added that to the protocol.
Medical Research: What should clinicians and patients take away from your report?
Dr. Geltzeiler: Clinicians and patients alike should understand that ERAS programs can be effective at allowing patients to safely recover and return to home with similar safety as traditional recovery pathways. These programs can also lead to healthcare cost savings for society.
Medical Research: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this study?
Dr. Geltzeiler: We would recommend that more hospitals attempt to implement these ERAS programs and continue to study the outcomes in order to further improve upon the programs to enhance patient perioperative care.
Citation:
Last Updated on August 6, 2014 by Marie Benz MD FAAD